Connection between Weather Types and Air Pollution Levels: A 19-Year Study in Nine EMEP Stations in Spain

Nuria Pardo, Samuel Sainz-Villegas, Ana I. Calvo (), Carlos Blanco-Alegre and Roberto Fraile
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Nuria Pardo: Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén, 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Samuel Sainz-Villegas: Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Ana I. Calvo: Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Carlos Blanco-Alegre: Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Roberto Fraile: Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: This study focuses on the analysis of the distribution, both spatial and temporal, of the PM 10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less) concentrations recorded in nine EMEP (European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme) background stations distributed throughout mainland Spain between 2001 and 2019. A study of hierarchical clusters was used to classify the stations into three main groups with similarities in yearly concentrations: GC (coastal location), GNC (north–central location), and GSE (southeastern location). The highest PM 10 concentrations were registered in summer. Annual evolution showed statistically significant decreasing trends in PM 10 concentration in all the stations covering a range from −0.21 to −0.50 µg m −3 /year for Barcarrota and Víznar, respectively. Through the Lamb classification, the weather types were defined during the study period, and those associated with high levels of pollution were identified. Finally, the values exceeding the limits established by the legislation were analyzed for every station assessed in the study.

Keywords: atmospheric pollution; EMEP; PM 10; trends; weather types (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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